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FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2025

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Young Artisan’s Heart of Gold:

How Nine-Year-Old Airadessa Hennings Turns Creativity into Compassion for Veterans By John Oliver While many children today spend their free time scrolling, gaming, or chasing the latest trends, nine-year-old Airadessa Hennings has chosen a different path—one guided by purpose, creativity, and kindness. Her journey is a heartfelt blend of imagination, faith, and compassion, brought to life through a humble act of generosity that continues to inspire everyone around her. Airadessa’s journey began when she was just eight years old. Her grandmother bought her a small pen-making kit, not knowing that it would ignite a passion that would soon blend artistry with service. With no instruction or online tutorials to guide her, Airadessa learned the craft on her own, turning raw materials into polished works of art that she would later use to help others. Among her many creative interests, Halloween-themed pens are her favorite. She loves experimenting with colors, textures, and designs that make each pen unique. But while her creativity shines, her motivation goes far beyond art. Airedessa’s grandparents run a nonprofit organization called Relent-

less Heroes, dedicated to supporting veterans through local outreach and community events. Inspired by their dedication, she decided to donate a portion of her sales to the foundation. At her first tournament, she priced each handmade pen at five dollars, giving half her

earnings to Relentless Heroes and using the rest to buy more supplies. It was a humble beginning that soon grew into something much larger. When others heard of her donation, they began to match it. What started as fifty-five dollars in pen sales multiplied through the kindness of others, raising a total of two

hundred sixty-five dollars for veterans. Her generosity did not stop there. In 2024, Airadessa created a wooden American eagle that sold for five hundred dollars. The following year, she crafted a Lego American flag that was purchased for four hundred dollars by local business owner Jerrod Connor of Rogue Armament. Additional contributions from Rogue Armament and Jeff Krull of All Seasons Heating, and Mary’s BBQ brought the total to eight hundred dollars for the nonprofit. Each year, her creativity grows alongside her commitment to giving back. When asked what part of her craft she finds most difficult, Airadessa says with a laugh that “putting the pen in the bag” is the hardest part. The most enjoyable, she explains, is coming up with new themes. From start to finish, each pen takes only a couple of minutes to complete, but those minutes are filled with focus, care, and inspiration. Her classmates, she says, don’t yet know much about her growing business, but that may soon change as her story continues to spread. Airadessa doesn’t yet sell her pens in local

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see TURNING, page 5

Josephine County Commissioner Accused of Using “Lawfare” to Silence the Press and Avoid Accountability By John Oliver Another troubling pattern has emerged within Josephine County’s leadership, where attempts to dodge questions from the media are being cloaked in the language of legal intimidation. The latest example involves County Commissioner Chris Barnett, who responded to a straightforward request for transparency from the Grants Pass Tribune with a warning that he considered contact from the newspaper to be harassment — a claim that lacks any factual or legal basis. The situation began after the Tribune sought clarification regarding a writer named “Shirley Johnson,” identified in an article Barnett had circulated. Neither the Tribune nor other local news outlets could verify that such a reporter existed or find any public contact information for her. The inquiry to Barnett was professional and courteous, requesting that Johnson reach out to the newspaper to confirm her involvement in the story and to ensure accuracy in local reporting. Instead of providing clarification, Commissioner Barnett replied with an email labeling the request as harassment and instructing that he not be contacted by any means. He cited prior litigation, though no restraining order exists and no current court action restricts communication between the commissioner and the press. His response, signed in his official capacity as Vice Chair of the Board of County Commissioners, was later described by legal experts as an overreach

of authority and an attempt to use his position to silence accountability. Under Oregon law, such behavior raises significant concerns. ORS 244.010 defines public service as a public trust, requiring transparency, accessibility, and integrity from elected officials. ORS 192.314 further guarantees the public’s right to access information from public bodies. While the law does not obligate commissioners to grant every interview, it reinforces the duty to act in good faith and maintain open communication with the public and the press. Barnett’s warning email stands in sharp contrast to these principles. The term “lawfare,” meaning the weaponiza-

tion of legal language and threats to suppress oversight, has increasingly entered the local lexicon to describe the conduct of certain county officials. By framing legitimate media inquiries as harassment, officials attempt to intimidate journalists, delay investigations, and discourage public scrutiny without ever addressing the substance of the questions. It is a strategy that undermines democracy by turning the law into a shield for political insecurity—something Commissioner Barnett appears to have perfected. Commissioner Andreas Blech has also reportedly cited vague “legal advice” as justification for avoiding communication with the press. Together, their actions have created a climate of avoidance that runs counter to the spirit of open government. These behaviors reveal not legal prudence but a deep discomfort with accountability. When officials respond to legitimate questions with hostility or legal posturing, it raises the question of what they are trying to hide. The Tribune, like all responsible media, has a duty to verify information and ensure that public statements by elected officials are accurate. Requests for clarification are not harassment; they are the foundation of factual reporting. The public deserves confidence that its local government operates transparently and that officials are not hiding behind legal jargon to escape uncomfortable questions. Barnett’s response, reflects a misunderstand-

ing of both law and public duty. There is no Oregon statute that allows an elected official to unilaterally forbid contact from a journalist or constituent absent a court order. Nor does defamation litigation, past or present, erase the public’s right to question elected leaders about their actions. Public officials remain accountable to every citizen — including members of the press. This incident highlights a broader issue facing small communities across Oregon. As local media outlets continue to hold government accountable, some officials appear to be growing more defensive and less transparent. The relationship between press and power is often tense, but that tension is vital to a functioning democracy. Attempts to silence that tension through threats or intimidation erode the foundation of public trust. It is worth remembering that freedom of the press is not a courtesy extended by government; it is a constitutional guarantee. Efforts to label press inquiries as harassment not only misrepresent the

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see USING, page 5